COMMUNITIES will take the driving seat in a new road safety initiative to tackle speeding motorists.

Villagers from Crowle, near Worcester, were the first people to arm themselves with hand-held speed measurement devices today (Friday, May 30) under the Community Speed Watch scheme launched by the Safer Roads Partnership.

Trained volunteers took to Church Road, Crowle, as the first site in the West Mercia Police force area with further sites due to follow suit in the coming months to further address concerns about the speed of traffic.

Mr Reynolds added: "Enabling local communities to take an active role in addressing concerns about speeding traffic allows us to be more responsive to the needs of local communities and will enhance our road safety and casualty reduction strategy.

"We hope the new site in Crowle will be the first of a series to see a positive change in driver behaviour and compliance with the speed limit.”

The scheme is initiated when speeding traffic has been identified as a community road safety concern by a parish council, safer neighbourhood team or community forum.

It must meet a number of criteria before it is established, including the area having a 30mph or 40mph speed restriction, no other enforcement activity being in place and speed data collected by the partnership must show speed levels do not meet the national industry requirements for police enforcement.

Each scheme must have at least six volunteers and the speed checks must be carried out by at least three volunteers at any one time.

Where vehicle speeds are found to be inappropriate, a letter is sent to the registered keeper by the police with the aim of encouraging them to reduce their speed when driving in the future.

The schemes will be evaluated to ensure they are having an impact on vehicle speed, driver behaviour and community reassurance.

Comments (8)

An excellent and pragmatic response which reminds rather than penalises whilst also being low cost and targeted to where there are specific problems and risks.

Congratulations to West Mercia and Safer Roads Partnership.

My only question is why it doesn't apply to 20mph areas including those close to schools.

An excellent and pragmatic response which reminds rather than penalises whilst also being low cost and targeted to where there are specific problems and risks.
Congratulations to West Mercia and Safer Roads Partnership.
My only question is why it doesn't apply to 20mph areas including those close to schools.3thinker

While the aim of the scheme is to reduce excessive speed, Is it cost effective? The steps involved and the labor to complete those steps (discounting volunteers) appears to be more costly than installing a speed camera. As far as I know, there are portable speed cameras available so that the authorities can check on speeding hot spots.
Or, is this the first step in the process to justify more stringent enforcement?

While the aim of the scheme is to reduce excessive speed, Is it cost effective? The steps involved and the labor to complete those steps (discounting volunteers) appears to be more costly than installing a speed camera. As far as I know, there are portable speed cameras available so that the authorities can check on speeding hot spots.
Or, is this the first step in the process to justify more stringent enforcement?Old Uncle

Old Uncle wrote:
While the aim of the scheme is to reduce excessive speed, Is it cost effective? The steps involved and the labor to complete those steps (discounting volunteers) appears to be more costly than installing a speed camera. As far as I know, there are portable speed cameras available so that the authorities can check on speeding hot spots.
Or, is this the first step in the process to justify more stringent enforcement?

As this scheme will actually involve very little time and cost for the Police and should reduce speeds and therefore road casualties I would have thought it was exceptionally cost effective.

[quote][p][bold]Old Uncle[/bold] wrote:
While the aim of the scheme is to reduce excessive speed, Is it cost effective? The steps involved and the labor to complete those steps (discounting volunteers) appears to be more costly than installing a speed camera. As far as I know, there are portable speed cameras available so that the authorities can check on speeding hot spots.
Or, is this the first step in the process to justify more stringent enforcement?[/p][/quote]The Department for Transport estimates that, on average, a slight road injury costs UK PLC £14,611; a serious injury £189,519 and a fatality £1.69 Million.
As this scheme will actually involve very little time and cost for the Police and should reduce speeds and therefore road casualties I would have thought it was exceptionally cost effective.3thinker

Old Uncle wrote:
While the aim of the scheme is to reduce excessive speed, Is it cost effective? The steps involved and the labor to complete those steps (discounting volunteers) appears to be more costly than installing a speed camera. As far as I know, there are portable speed cameras available so that the authorities can check on speeding hot spots.
Or, is this the first step in the process to justify more stringent enforcement?

Speed cameras are useless. They are expensive and sit in only one location.

This will enable the residents to find where there are issues and move around.

They may find that people are not even speeding but just the roads are narrow.

I also think a warning through the post is less nasty but more effective than fines,

[quote][p][bold]Old Uncle[/bold] wrote:
While the aim of the scheme is to reduce excessive speed, Is it cost effective? The steps involved and the labor to complete those steps (discounting volunteers) appears to be more costly than installing a speed camera. As far as I know, there are portable speed cameras available so that the authorities can check on speeding hot spots.
Or, is this the first step in the process to justify more stringent enforcement?[/p][/quote]Speed cameras are useless. They are expensive and sit in only one location.
This will enable the residents to find where there are issues and move around.
They may find that people are not even speeding but just the roads are narrow.
I also think a warning through the post is less nasty but more effective than fines,MJI

Old Uncle wrote:
While the aim of the scheme is to reduce excessive speed, Is it cost effective? The steps involved and the labor to complete those steps (discounting volunteers) appears to be more costly than installing a speed camera. As far as I know, there are portable speed cameras available so that the authorities can check on speeding hot spots.
Or, is this the first step in the process to justify more stringent enforcement?

Speed cameras are useless. They are expensive and sit in only one location.

This will enable the residents to find where there are issues and move around.

They may find that people are not even speeding but just the roads are narrow.

I also think a warning through the post is less nasty but more effective than fines,

MJI makes a very valid point. To me its certainly a much better way to encourage more drivers to act more responsibly and by making it clear that its their fellow citizens rather than the Police that are expressing concerns I'm sure its more likely to succeed.

[quote][p][bold]MJI[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Old Uncle[/bold] wrote:
While the aim of the scheme is to reduce excessive speed, Is it cost effective? The steps involved and the labor to complete those steps (discounting volunteers) appears to be more costly than installing a speed camera. As far as I know, there are portable speed cameras available so that the authorities can check on speeding hot spots.
Or, is this the first step in the process to justify more stringent enforcement?[/p][/quote]Speed cameras are useless. They are expensive and sit in only one location.
This will enable the residents to find where there are issues and move around.
They may find that people are not even speeding but just the roads are narrow.
I also think a warning through the post is less nasty but more effective than fines,[/p][/quote]MJI makes a very valid point. To me its certainly a much better way to encourage more drivers to act more responsibly and by making it clear that its their fellow citizens rather than the Police that are expressing concerns I'm sure its more likely to succeed.3thinker

In line with their new policy to no longer arrest people just voluntarily question them , they now longer prosecute people for speeding they just send them a stern warning letter?

Do Worst Farcia actually do anything at all now?

In line with their new policy to no longer arrest people just voluntarily question them , they now longer prosecute people for speeding they just send them a stern warning letter?
Do Worst Farcia actually do anything at all now?DarrenM

As it stands it just looks like the residents are 'fed up' with (non residential) traffic on a road in their village (which, erm, i can't believe for one minute...not even a little bit)

So what are the traffic incident stats for Crowle?
As it stands it just looks like the residents are 'fed up' with (non residential) traffic on a road in their village (which, erm, i can't believe for one minute...not even a little bit)FlinkGnat